Chris Evert Coming to Polk

Published: Tuesday, September 11, 2012 at 9:51 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, September 11, 2012 at 9:51 p.m.

Chris Evert, winner of 18-grand slam titles, will speak at the dedication of Florida Southern College's new $1.6 million Wynee Warden Tennis Complex at 11 a.m.

The new complex at Harvard Road and Duke Place at Callahan Court, is part of a larger expansion project at Florida Southern. Three homes owned by the college were demolished last year to make way for the facility, which features 10 lighted hard courts with the U.S. Open blue surface and a double-sided grandstand. The grandstand overlooks two championship courts named after Warden's sons, Andrew and Chandler Warden. The complex seats at least 400.

All but one court will have a donor name.

Court six is named after Ernest Wishnatzki, former Lakeland High School player who was killed in World War II. The court was donated by his brother, Lester Wishnatzki, a strawberry farmer.

Court five is named for the late George Harris, former CEO and chairman of the board of Citrus and Chemical Bank. It was donated by his wife, Harriet Harris.

Additional courts are named after Dr. Mark Hollis, Robert P. Murray, Gil Mitchell, the Watkins Family and Tami McGinty Collier. The Murray court is given in memory of Robert by Bennie Jo Murray.

The complex is designed in the tradition of Frank Lloyd Wright with a red roof and red entrance gates.

Five old courts located near the center of the campus in front of the Jenkins Fieldhouse were demolished to make way for Mr. George's Green. Four more courts near the softball field are still playable.

"It's awesome," said FSC women's coach Trish Riddell, who won the national grass court women's age 35 singles and doubles (with Mary Dailey) this past summer. "Having been to a few Division II schools — this is the best in our conference."

Rodda Construction handled the project, which was funded by Warden, a friend of the college, through her father's foundation, the Bert W. Martin Foundation. The public is welcome to attend, and Evert will sign autographs.

While the courts are to be used by the school's tennis teams and its students, Riddell and Athletic Director Pete Meyer said the complex will host future tournaments, including those the public can play in.

One such tournament is the ITA One-Day Campus Showdown, which is the facility's first event on Sept. 22. The event features a compass format, which mixes all ages, genders and levels of play in singles and doubles. Check-in begins at 8 a.m. with with the first matches starting at 8:30.

It's $10 to enter. The singles deadline is Sept. 21 at 6 p.m. The doubles deadline is noon Sept. 22.

The Mocs also are hosting the Intercollegiate Tennis Association South Regional Sept. 27-30 at the Beerman Family Tennis Center in Lakeland.

Madonia Wins Again

Lakeland's Stephen Madonia, 15, of Lakeland captured the boys' age 18 consolation title in the Daytona Beach Designated during the weekend.

Madonia won his first match in the main draw. He fell to seventh-seeded Baker Newman 7-6, 6-2 to drop to consolation.

He defeated fifth-seeded Miles Holovet 6-2, 7-6, then fourth-seeded Gianlucca Massa 6-1, 6-4. He won 6-0, 6-4 over Ognjen Samardzic.

Madonia has moved up to the No. 15 spot in the Florida age 16 rankings.

Hinson, Andrew Honored

Former Polk County tennis pros Jim Hinson and Jorge Andrew were recently inducted into the South Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame.

Hinson played tennis at Lakeland High School and helped his team win a state championship.

He is the son of Kathy and Lynn Harrison and Bobby Hinson. He won a junior college championship with Miami Dade North and went on to play No. 1 at Georgia Southern. He taught tennis for Harry Hopwood at Bardmoor and in Austria.

Hinson was ranked No. 1 in the USTA South Carolina age 30s, 35s, 40s, 45s 50s and 55s. He was ranked No. 1 in the USTA Southern Section in the men's 35s and 45s. Nationally, he's been ranked in the top 10 in the 35s.

A former student of Dave Beerman, Hinson is a longtime member of the South Carolina team's Southern Senior Cup event and a member of the USTA Intersectional team and USTA National team.

Hinsonhas been the director of tennis of the Members Club at Woodcreek and Wildewood for 26 years.

Andrew was the director of tennis at the Lake Region Yacht and Country Club.

Andrew, who lives in Lexington, is a former Davis Cup player and captain who has played the most games in Davis Cup history.

He was a tour pro for 10 years, defeating Rod Laver and Guillermo Vilas.

He has won the Professional Tennis Registry international singles championship in four age groups and has won 13 PTR international doubles titles with Roy Barth.

Andrew is the director of tennis for the Lexington County Recreation and Aging Commission and oversees ITF tournaments such as the Boys and Girls Southern 10s, South Carolina Closed Junior Hardcourt Championships, the National Public Parks Championships and USTA Southern Tri-State Tournament of Champions.

Ledger Super Series

More than 180 players are registered for The Ledger Junior Super Series Saturday and Sunday at the Beerman Family Tennis Center. Action begins at 8 a.m. both days. The finals of some age groups will be played Sunday. Finals in larger age groups will be played Monday.

Back to School Bash

Auburndale's Back to School Bash is Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. for players age 6 and older.

<p>One of the biggest names in tennis is visiting Polk County Friday.</p><p>Chris Evert, winner of 18-grand slam titles, will speak at the dedication of Florida Southern College's new $1.6 million Wynee Warden Tennis Complex at 11 a.m.</p><p>The new complex at Harvard Road and Duke Place at Callahan Court, is part of a larger expansion project at Florida Southern. Three homes owned by the college were demolished last year to make way for the facility, which features 10 lighted hard courts with the U.S. Open blue surface and a double-sided grandstand. The grandstand overlooks two championship courts named after Warden's sons, Andrew and Chandler Warden. The complex seats at least 400.</p><p>All but one court will have a donor name.</p><p>Court six is named after Ernest Wishnatzki, former Lakeland High School player who was killed in World War II. The court was donated by his brother, Lester Wishnatzki, a strawberry farmer.</p><p>Court five is named for the late George Harris, former CEO and chairman of the board of Citrus and Chemical Bank. It was donated by his wife, Harriet Harris.</p><p>Additional courts are named after Dr. Mark Hollis, Robert P. Murray, Gil Mitchell, the Watkins Family and Tami McGinty Collier. The Murray court is given in memory of Robert by Bennie Jo Murray.</p><p>The complex is designed in the tradition of Frank Lloyd Wright with a red roof and red entrance gates.</p><p>Five old courts located near the center of the campus in front of the Jenkins Fieldhouse were demolished to make way for Mr. George's Green. Four more courts near the softball field are still playable.</p><p>"It's awesome," said FSC women's coach Trish Riddell, who won the national grass court women's age 35 singles and doubles (with Mary Dailey) this past summer. "Having been to a few Division II schools — this is the best in our conference."</p><p>Rodda Construction handled the project, which was funded by Warden, a friend of the college, through her father's foundation, the Bert W. Martin Foundation. The public is welcome to attend, and Evert will sign autographs.</p><p>While the courts are to be used by the school's tennis teams and its students, Riddell and Athletic Director Pete Meyer said the complex will host future tournaments, including those the public can play in.</p><p>One such tournament is the ITA One-Day Campus Showdown, which is the facility's first event on Sept. 22. The event features a compass format, which mixes all ages, genders and levels of play in singles and doubles. Check-in begins at 8 a.m. with with the first matches starting at 8:30.</p><p>It's $10 to enter. The singles deadline is Sept. 21 at 6 p.m. The doubles deadline is noon Sept. 22.</p><p>The Mocs also are hosting the Intercollegiate Tennis Association South Regional Sept. 27-30 at the Beerman Family Tennis Center in Lakeland.</p><p> </p><p><b>Madonia Wins Again</b></p><p>Lakeland's Stephen Madonia, 15, of Lakeland captured the boys' age 18 consolation title in the Daytona Beach Designated during the weekend.</p><p>Madonia won his first match in the main draw. He fell to seventh-seeded Baker Newman 7-6, 6-2 to drop to consolation.</p><p>He defeated fifth-seeded Miles Holovet 6-2, 7-6, then fourth-seeded Gianlucca Massa 6-1, 6-4. He won 6-0, 6-4 over Ognjen Samardzic.</p><p>Madonia has moved up to the No. 15 spot in the Florida age 16 rankings.</p><p> </p><p><b>Hinson, Andrew Honored</b></p><p>Former Polk County tennis pros Jim Hinson and Jorge Andrew were recently inducted into the South Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame.</p><p>Hinson played tennis at Lakeland High School and helped his team win a state championship.</p><p>He is the son of Kathy and Lynn Harrison and Bobby Hinson. He won a junior college championship with Miami Dade North and went on to play No. 1 at Georgia Southern. He taught tennis for Harry Hopwood at Bardmoor and in Austria.</p><p>Hinson was ranked No. 1 in the USTA South Carolina age 30s, 35s, 40s, 45s 50s and 55s. He was ranked No. 1 in the USTA Southern Section in the men's 35s and 45s. Nationally, he's been ranked in the top 10 in the 35s.</p><p>A former student of Dave Beerman, Hinson is a longtime member of the South Carolina team's Southern Senior Cup event and a member of the USTA Intersectional team and USTA National team.</p><p>Hinsonhas been the director of tennis of the Members Club at Woodcreek and Wildewood for 26 years.</p><p>Andrew was the director of tennis at the Lake Region Yacht and Country Club.</p><p>Andrew, who lives in Lexington, is a former Davis Cup player and captain who has played the most games in Davis Cup history.</p><p>He was a tour pro for 10 years, defeating Rod Laver and Guillermo Vilas.</p><p>He has won the Professional Tennis Registry international singles championship in four age groups and has won 13 PTR international doubles titles with Roy Barth.</p><p>Andrew is the director of tennis for the Lexington County Recreation and Aging Commission and oversees ITF tournaments such as the Boys and Girls Southern 10s, South Carolina Closed Junior Hardcourt Championships, the National Public Parks Championships and USTA Southern Tri-State Tournament of Champions.</p><p> </p><p><b>Ledger Super Series</b></p><p>More than 180 players are registered for The Ledger Junior Super Series Saturday and Sunday at the Beerman Family Tennis Center. Action begins at 8 a.m. both days. The finals of some age groups will be played Sunday. Finals in larger age groups will be played Monday.</p><p> </p><p><b>Back to School Bash</b></p><p>Auburndale's Back to School Bash is Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. for players age 6 and older.</p><p>Players can compete in round robin matches, group games, Grips testing and enjoy pizza.</p><p>For more, call 863-965-5544 or email Carol Mahler at cmahler@auburndalefl.com.</p><p> </p><p><b>USTA Adult Championships</b></p><p>Registration is ongoing for the USTA Adult Championships Sept. 29-30 at the Lake Region Yacht and Country Club.</p><p>Sign up for open or ratings play.</p><p>Divisions are open and 3.0 to 4.5 levels for men's and women's singles.</p><p>The divisions for men's doubles are open and 7.0 to 8.0. The divisions for women's doubles are open and 6.0 to 8.0.</p><p>The fee is $50 for open singles and $40 for all other singles divisions. It's $30 for open doubles and $20 for all others.</p><p>Don't forget about the kids camp on Sept. 28 at 10 a.m. It's $20 and open to players ages 12 and younger.</p><p>For more, visit www.bosetennis.com.</p>